Recommended Free Tools
iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
If Codex on Windows shows an approval_policy = "untrusted" error, remove that unsupported setting from its configuration and restart the app. Other symptoms—such as an instant exit, a splash-screen hang, or a crash after an update—have been reported separately and do not have one established fix. Match your symptom and app version to the guidance below before changing files or reinstalling.
Fix the documented unsupported approval-policy error
OpenAI documents a startup failure caused by approval_policy = "untrusted". The issue applies to Codex CLI 0.149.0 and later, Codex desktop app 26.818.31338 and later on Windows, macOS, and Linux, and Codex VS Code extension 26.818.31338 and later. It is a specific configuration problem, not an explanation for every freeze or crash. See OpenAI’s unsupported approval-policy guidance.
- Close Codex. In Windows, open
%USERPROFILE%.codexconfig.tomlin a text editor. - Find and remove the active
approval_policy = "untrusted"setting. Check any applicable profiles or organization-managed configuration as well; removing one line from the user configuration will not help if another active source still sets it. - Check allowed approval policies and any command or shortcut that launches Codex with
--ask-for-approval untrusted. Remove the unsupported value wherever it is configured. - Save the changes and restart Codex. OpenAI documents
sandbox_mode = "read-only"withapproval_policy = "on-request"as a restrictive alternative.
If the app does not show this configuration error, do not assume this change addresses the problem.
Identify which failure you are seeing
Similar descriptions can point to different cases. Note the precise behavior before troubleshooting: an error at startup, a window that appears and exits, a splash screen that never advances, a freeze after clicking, or a crash during a particular action. Reports of these symptoms are individual cases, not evidence that one defect affects all Windows users.
#1 Best Overall
- Fresh USB Install With Key code Included
- 24/7 Tech Support from expert Technician
- Top product with Great Reviews
- Brief launch, then exit: A community technical report describes this on Windows ARM64 and attributes that individual case to a native SerialPort module failure. This is not an official general diagnosis: the Windows ARM64 report.
- Crashes after an app update: A separate thread reports post-update crashes, and a reply attributed to OpenAI support says an update addressing the reported unexpected crashes had been released. That reply does not establish that all crashes share the same cause or that later recurrences are fixed: the update-crash discussion.
- Stuck on the OpenAI logo: One Windows user reported this after a Windows update while Codex in a browser still worked. That comparison is useful diagnostic information, not proof of a general Windows or app defect: the splash-screen report.
- Unresponsive when you interact: In another thread, OpenAI Support suggested troubleshooting steps for that reported case. These are suggestions, not guaranteed remedies for other startup failures: the unresponsive-app thread.
Try support’s suggestions for an unresponsive app
For the interaction-freeze case, OpenAI Support advised restarting Windows, not just the Codex processes. If that does not help, the reply suggested trying the following one at a time so you can tell whether anything changes:
- Restart Windows, then try Codex again.
- Try launching Codex as administrator.
- Temporarily disable overlays or antivirus software to check whether either is interfering. Re-enable protection after the test; this is an isolation step, not a recommendation to leave security software off.
- Reinstall Codex using a fresh installer.
The support reply does not establish that these steps resolve every unresponsive state. It also asks users to provide Windows and Codex versions, hardware details, reproduction steps, logs, or screenshots. The exact advice is in OpenAI Support’s reply in the community thread.
Be cautious with account-file workarounds
One community user said deleting auth.json from the Codex configuration directory resolved a stuck-logo case, while conversations and project records remained. This is anecdotal, not official general guidance, and it does not establish that deleting the file is safe or useful for other symptoms. Do not make it a first-line fix: the report describes that individual outcome.
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallCrashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteRank #2
- Dual USB-A & USB-C Bootable Drive – compatible with nearly all Windows PCs, laptops, and tablets (UEFI & Legacy BIOS). Works with Surface devices and all major brands.
- Fully Customizable USB – easily Add, Replace, or Upgrade any compatible bootable ISO app, installer, or utility (clear step-by-step instructions included).
- Complete Windows Repair Toolkit – includes tools to remove viruses, reset passwords, recover lost files, and fix boot errors like BOOTMGR or NTLDR missing.
- Reinstall or Upgrade Windows – perform a clean reinstall of Windows 7 (32bit and 64bit), 10, or 11 (amd64 + arm64) to restore performance and stability. (Windows license not included.). Includes Full Driver Pack – ensures hardware compatibility after installation. Automatically detects and installs drivers for most PCs.
- Premium Hardware & Reliable Support – built with high-quality flash chips for speed and longevity. TECH STORE ON provides responsive customer support within 24 hours.
Prepare a useful support report
If the problem persists, send support enough detail to distinguish your case from the separate reports. Include:
- The exact symptom and any startup error text; say whether Codex exits immediately, hangs on a logo, freezes on interaction, or crashes during a specific action.
- Your Windows version and build, device architecture (including whether it is ARM64), Codex app version, and installation source.
- Whether the problem began after a Codex update or Windows update, and when it started.
- Steps that reproduce the issue, plus relevant screenshots or logs.
- Whether Codex in a browser still works.
These details help describe the failure; they do not by themselves prove its cause. The available reports do not establish a universal cause or fix for Windows Codex crashes, hangs, and startup failures.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
